Cheerful Frugality Steels Herself
When I vowed to maintain my stuff instead of buying more, I had no idea I'd be tested so soon.
Looks like thrift stores may no longer be allowed to sell kids' clothing and toys.
I buy 95% of my kid stuff secondhand, including Christmas. Taking away my best frugal source? It put me into panic mode.
But when my favorite salvage food store closed, I coped. I started cooking more scratch meals to compensate, and our diet improved overall.
Could losing thrift store clothes and toys be a positive experience? Cheerful frugality better find out soon.
- I will focus less on material things.
- I will be less tempted to buy more than we really need.
- My kids will rely less on the novelty of fresh playthings.
- I will spend less time looking for bargains (and more time on stain removal).
- I *may* learn to create toys and clothes at home.
- We will ALL be forced to take better care of our classic toys and kids clothing.
Now if you'll excuse me, there's a tub of Lincoln Logs left in the yard that we need to rescue, posthaste!
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10 Responses to “Cheerful Frugality Steels Herself”
January 5th, 2009 at 10:57 am
This is really weighing on my mind, too. I don’t buy many toys (Grandma more than provides!) but clothing could be a real issue. I wonder if it will affect our local twice yearly kids consignment sale. Hopefully it won’t come o that. But I totally agree that it’s time to start adjusting – taking better care of things we already have and buying much less are high on my list this year.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:07 am
And… we’ll create a closer-knit community with others by sharing {no cost involved there!}!
January 5th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Thank goodness we have a local clothes closet for reused clothes. Look into the local food pantries. Many have a clothing area too or know where to go.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:41 am
My brother and I started making wooden toys for my kids over the summer. I think I am going to have to start up again.
I am panicking over losing my $1 gymboree clothing and $2 brand new stride rites source.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Thank you for the silver lining. I have also been panicking a bit about this.
The waste and loss of such a wonderful frugal resource makes me sad, but I like the perspective you’ve provided.
I suppose it’s time for me to really learn how to use that sewing machine, and count my blessings that my baby is a girl–it must be easier to learn to sew dresses before pants!
January 5th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
It’s not necessarily a done deal – I have written my congressman about this issue, and if anything is to be done about it, it would be great for more people to do the same. They may not have considered the far reaching effect that this law will have, on the environment (hello, landfill?) and on the economy! Write!!
January 6th, 2009 at 2:58 am
Since my kiddos are all almost out of the “toy stage” of life, this one is not my biggest fear. I wonder if the same rules will apply to yard sales? I have no idea how they would regulate this, but it makes me wonder.
The clothing is my biggest fear. Although I am an avid clearance rack shopper, I don’t like the fact that options are being lost. The economic impact, especially in such fragile times, is also worrisome.
What are they thinking?
January 8th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
The CPSC issued clarifications to this rule today. The press release is at the top of their page at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html
In reading it, it basically says that manufacturers have to test items made on or after 2/10/09 and the resale shops are not responsible for doing so – WHEW! They do caution the stores and everyone else to be careful what they sell anyway, but it appears that the stores can sell these items. I think this will still be onerous for some of the small toy and clothing makers, though.
Personally, methinks they probably got a LOT of grief once this came out AND the sponsors of the bill called to tell them what they INTENDED the bill to say, even if it’s now what the bill actually said!
January 9th, 2009 at 8:06 am
whew…I am truly glad about the resale issue being resolved….but what about the handmade small businesses. Does anyone know if they dealt with this yet?
January 12th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I am sorry to by a rain cloud, but that clarification is really not as nice as it sounds.
For one thing, Julie Vallese, who issued that clarification, says she was misquoted by the paper. For another, she resigned the same day.
I blogged about this on my regular blog on the 8th, you can read my concerns here You should know that a number of people, including lawyers, do not find that clarification reassuring. Resale shops are still at risk. All they really said is that the shops don’t have to test, but they are still liable to be prosecuted for selling untested items. Allan Adler, VP for legal and government affairs at the Association of American Publishers also looked at the ‘clarification’ for resale shops and sees it as unclarified as I do. He:
(the Smartmama also sees that clarification as I did, see her January 10th article both for her take on that, and a very helpful list of those things she finds typically have lead). Random House and other publishing houses are now involved in fighting the CPSIA, and the ALA has sought further clarification from the Commission as well, as their lawyers do not see how the Commission can legally exempt them. In addition, the ‘clarifications’ are not binding. They aren’t legal advice. And they have an expiration date- the current Commission of two will have three more people added when Obama becomes President, and they may well be replaced altogether. The new Commission can overturn whatever this one has done. See my regular blog and click on the CPSIA label to follow the latest on this bill.
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